Chandlers Building Supplies' customers are being urged to down tools and get puzzling to help raise funds for a new therapy farm to support children with disabilities across the UK.
The building supplier is backing the Chailey Heritage Foundation – a pioneering disability and education charity that supports children and young adults with neurological and motor conditions – by helping it to build a new multi-sensory farm.
Named Patchwork Farm, Chandlers is already donating materials to help with the construction of the fully accessible, wheelchair-friendly facility and now staff at all branches are calling on customers to help raise the £55,000 needed to build, stock and open the farm by completing a 1,000 piece in-store jigsaw.
Customers and the local community are invited to buy jigsaw pieces for £3 each and add them to the puzzle, with every penny going to Patchwork Farm.
As well as providing therapy sessions for Chailey's 220 youngsters, the facility, which will be based in Sussex and home initially to goats, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs, will also help deliver life skills and independence courses, and will eventually be opened for children with disabilities from across the country.
Paula Marten, head of Chailey's Hanbury department, which supports young people into adulthood, said: "Patchwork Farm is a facility all children and young people at Chailey, and eventually anyone with a disability in the UK, will be able to use. Animal therapy has a proven track record of helping to boost confidence and learning in children with special educational needs, and the farm will provide an enriching new activity for our youngsters. A big thank you to Chandlers for supporting the project."
Richard Skinner, commercial director at Chandlers Building Supplies, added: "Patchwork Farm will be a wonderful facility for all ages and we are pleased to be involved with the project. We know how generous Chandlers customers are and hope they can support this worthy cause. We are looking forward to seeing the jigsaw come together over the next few months."
